Heating system



Nov. 28, 1944.

H. R. GOODALE 2,363,787

HEATING SYSTEM 3 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Dec; 30, 19,39

Fig.3

INVENTOR."

H75 ATTO RNIEY HA IZOLD R.GOODA'Lt;

Nov. 28, 1944. H. R. GOODALE 2,363,787

HEATING SYYSTEM Filed Dec. 30, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 13

, INVENTOIZ:

PRESSURE LBS- :in m A o r'iq. 15 HISATTORNEY HA BOLD/2.600 DA L5,.

Nov. 28, 1944.

H. R. GOODALE HEATING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 50, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 TO fl: 4 DAL E, W 4% H15 A TTO QNE).

Patented Nov. 28, 1944 mam SYSTEM Harold'R. Goodale, Bristol, Conn. Application Dec eniber 3-0, 1939, Serial No. $1 1,713, ('01. 237-9) ceclaiins.

This invention relates to heatingsystemspespa cially one-pipe steam systemsusing vacuum valves, and comprises all of the features and aspects of noveltyherein disclosed. According to the Ferguson Patent2,062,565, it is desirable to bring the-pressure in;a steam heating system back to atmospheric at the beginning of each heating cycle because, with air in the system, the venting of this. air and consequent distribution of steam to theradiators can be better controlled. In the patent, an electricallyoperated valve is used to break the vacuum and this is complicated and expensive. I n

An object :of. the invention, accordingly, is to 7 provide an improved and an inexpensive valve for breaking vacuum, and more especially .a valve and an improved method ofqoperatinga heating system whereby electric operating means for the valve is eliminated andwherein the opening of the valve to break vacuum=will be controlled by changing conditions within the system itself.

tem, this change in pressure preferably beingithe increase in vapor pressure due to 'renewed heat after a partial vacuum has been builtup by the cooling of the system. Thismethod of operation is conducive to simplicity and low cost.

In the present embodiments, the vacuum is broken under control :of a change in pressure in the sys- To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices and methodsof this character, the inventionconsists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed. In its broader aspectsth'e invention is not necessarily limited to. i the specific constructions and steps selected for illustrative purposesin the accompanying drawings in which i Fig. 1 is a diagram of a portionof a heating system, i l t t Fig. 2'is a sectionalviewof a valve.

Fig. 3 isa sectionalview ofthe valveof Fig. 2 a

partly broken away and with parts in another position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, partly broken away,

of a modified valve.

Fig. .6v is a bottomend view of'a portion of Fig.4. 1 t

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, of a modified valve.

. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are sectional views similar to Fig. Zshowing successive positions taken by some of the parts of Fig. '7 i i l l p Fig. .11 is .a sectional view of another modification. l

Figs. .12, 13 and 14 are sectional views of other modifications, i

i .Fig. 15 isa diagram. i I

. "Thenumeral I 0 indicates a .furnaee fired by an Fig.5 is a sectional view taken on 11 1s 5- 5 of 'Fig. 4.

- oil burner controlled by .a motor M. A steam main [2 leadsiromntheiurnace to points'below the variousradiators .H while risers 16 lead to the radiators. Each radiator has avacuum valve IS with an adjustable vent. One of iny vacuum breaking valves V is shownattachedto the fun nace main i2 but can be placedpn a radiator. The. motor circuit is controlled-bye thermostat 22 in another circuit which operates a relay switch 24; Ina system lacking a vacuum-break 3 ing valve, the pressure changes in the systemthat might occur during a heating cycle are indicated by the curve onthe chart,-Fig. 15. The heavy lines indicate periods .when thebunner is on and naturally the pressure thenrises, In a system using. the electricaly operated vacuum breaking valve of. the Ferguson patent, tthe thermostat starts the burner simultaneouslywith the breaking of vacuum in the system, 'arrda solenoid; a switch and a connected bellows, among other things, are needed to operate the :vacuum breaking valve. In thisflsystem;-the,-pressure rwould go up to atmospheric on dotted :line 1L. -:Accord-. ingfto the presentinvention, my vacuurn breaking valve is controlled by pressure in the system itself.

and the air is not let in to break the vacuum until the burner: has reheated the water to a point at which some vaponpressure (diminished vacuum) is created; In such a system, thepressure, instead of going up gradually l as" in the full line curve ofthe chart, would "go up suiddenlyto atmospheric-at? the point P asdindicated by a broken line. The air in the system then gives definite control of venting through the vacu'um valveson the radiatorsfv I i One form of my valveto "go direct ly'on the furnace is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. 'Abase 30 is threaded to re'ceivea flanged nut 32 whichclamps a flangef34 one/casing 38. {At the top of the casing is a threadedmember3B =having a tapped openingto receive the adju'stable threaded stem 40 of a valve which is: conical and adapted to engage aseat in -a movable seat member 44.

Attached to and movably supportingthe seat member. is a bellows IB whose lower end is soldered to thecasing. "Atmospheric air has access to the space outside of the bellows through .a screened opening I4'I."Restlngon the seat mem, her is a light check valve 48in the form of an apertured disk adapted to, slide .down on the stem 40 as far as the shouldero'f thevalve 42 when thesea-t membermoves down-\fl'he seat. member has a centralportill-leading-to a second .seat Wi-th which a second conical valve =52. co-

operates. The valve 52 has a stern 5 3 adapted to slide within a sleeve such sliding bein% .restrictedbya friction brake in the form of a spring 01112 56 having a shoe 5B. A cap et! loosely suri rounds the "stem .5 3 below the. shoulder and'is a threaded nipple 64 adapted for attachment'to The base has grooves mo in the threaded nipple m2 of the base.

The enlargements are pressed against the bottoms of the grooves by a U-shaped spring I04 the furnace as indicated by 36 in Fig. 1. In this case, the valve V on the main I2,would be an ordinary vacuum valve to Vent air and retain a partial vacuum.

Starting with a cold system, the upper valve 42 being closed and thelower valve 52 open, the heat comes on and steam pressure only tends to stretch the bellows and close the valve tighter. Air in the system is driven out of the usual vacuum valves I8 on the radiators. A periodof heating occurs: Whenthe heat is shut 01f, condensation builds up a partial vacuum. This causes the bellows to contract, thereby drawin the seat member 44 downaway from the valv 42 f as indicated in Fig. 3. Air does not enter the bellows to any extent because the check valve 48 remains on the seat until the seat member 44 goes down far enough to leave the check valve supported on the shoulder of the valve.

valve 52 and closes the port 50 before the check valve is unseated. Thereafter the contraction of the bellows causes the seat member to push the stem 53 down in'the sleeve 54 against the friction of the spring-pressed shoe to the position shown I1 in Fig. 3. If there is no material leakage of air into the system, vacuumwill be helduntil the heat comes on and creates a vapor pressure. This reduces the vacuum, partially expands the bellows,

and opens the lower valve which breaks the 1 vacuum completely. The entering air expands the bellows. lifting the seat member-and thevalve stem 53. The seat member also lifts the check valve 48 off the shoulder and, after this occurs, air can only continue to enter-byleaking between the valve stem and the check valve. The valve 42 finally becomes closed and all the parts reach the original position. It willbe appreciated that, during the building up of vacuum, the greater the vacuum, the more the friction stem 53 will slide down in the sleeve 54 to limit the pressure which. the vacuum acting on the bellows tends to exert between the valve seat and the valv 52. Hence, however high the vacuum builds, substantially the same diminution in vacuum will cause the valve seat andthe valve to separate-and this degree of diminution is predetermined by the' resistance to sliding of the spring pressedstem 53 in the sleeve 54.

In Fig. 4, is shown a valve to be mounted'at V in Fig. 1 and used withthe radiator valves. I8 (but without the valve 36). It comprises abase I0 which is threaded to receive a flanged nut I2 which clamps aflange I4 ona casing I6 againstv a gasket I8. A supporting ring 80 is clampedin a i;

. recess of the base and is soldered to a bellows 82 of the bellows.

As the seat member thus descends, it engages the lower having openings smaller than the enlargements. Thetwo rods and the attached disc 00 and valve stem 88are thus frictionally-supported but can be forced down whenever the bellows collapses enough for the seat 86 to press against the valve I .stem 88.

There is an annular space between the valve stem 88. and the surrounding seat member and this space communicates by a vertical port I06 and transverse grooves I08 with the space outside A partition IIO extends across the casing and has a central hump H2 and a plurality of struck-up lugs I I4 which leave perforations I I6 which provide communication-between the compartments'. Resting on the hump I I2 and centered bythe lugs H4 is a snap disc H8 forming the bottom of a thermostatic member in the form of an alcohol float I20 having an attached valve stem I22 arranged to engage a seat 'in an adjustable seat member I24. There is an annular space between the valve stem and the seat member and this space communicates with the atmosphere through a port I26 which should be of larger cross section than the-portlllfi. The I valve stem 88 can be removed endwise by first removing the spring I04 and turning the rods 90 until the lugs 94 pass beyond the ends ,of the ledges 0B. The removal of the nut I2 provides-for access to the bellows.

Assuming bothvalves are open andthe is cold, when the heat comes on, Vapor pressure drives air out of the casing, such air passing through the lower seat member 84, the perforations H6 and the upperport I26. Whenste'am arrives at the alcohol float,':the upper valve I22 .closes. A period of heating ensues. When the fire dies down, condensation builds up a partial vacuum and, upon suflicient COOliIlg, the upper v valve opens. Air freely enters the Casing above the bellows, collapsing it partially, and depresses the lower seat member 84 to close the lower valve.

= Since the upper port I26 is larger than the lower port I06, the air does not'enter the bellows sufliciently to destroy the partial vacuum. .As condensation continues and more of a vacuum forms inside, of the bellows, the latter collapses more and more and the seat member 84pushes down on the valve stem 88. The stem in turn pushes down on the two rods overcoming the friction provided by the spring-pressed enlargements-08 which slide downwardly in their; grooves. When,

. later, the heat comes on again, vapor pressure (diminished vacuum) will easil expand the bellows and raise the valveseat 84 from the valve 88. Then both valves are open to admit air to the system. As the valve seat rises 'to thus open the lower valve, the ledges 96 engage the lugs 04 on the rods, and an' increase in'vapor pressure lifts the rods and the valve stem 88, the latter staying open and in spaced relation to its seat. The parts thus return to the original position ready for another cycle.

In Fig. 7, another valve for use at V comprises "a base I30 threaded to receive a flanged, nut I32 which clamps a flange I34 on a casing I36 against system I under certain conditions.

"As i'nthe other formsth'errictien limitingdevi'c'e "compensates forvariatio in the degree of vacuum developed so that the valve will reopen upon a answer tube 'I "which always projects throughthe mem- "In to let atmospheric air enter into a heat or container r54 on which the valve I 50 is secured. "The container I 54 is g uided ih thecasihg "by struck eutproiecti'ons 1 56. A co11ar l- 58 on I the rod supports the center of a bimetallic disc "W which "engages near its "periphery with a struck-in rib "I62 on the container. {The bottom or the container is formed by a stilt plate I64 hiiVii-i'g an opening for the rod M8 and other openings I65. s'o'lder'ed to the 'cbnt'a'ineris a bellows 1 96 which forms a collapsible extension of the container and always isopen to the-atmosphere through the openings *I BS and the hollow. valve lst. r

V hastened "to the bottom of the bellows is a plug IGB which is 'frictionally gripped by the slit lower portion of a sleeve I10, the slits I72 making the sleeve springy with inherent tendencyjto grip the plug. The sleeve has its upper end flangedand supported by ahead In at the lower end or the red, the sleeve being free to rise from the head The sleeve also prevents excessive collapse of the bellows. f c Assuming the. system is cold and the parts located as indicated inFig. 7, when the heatcomes on, the steam causes the bimetal disc IBQ to flex upwardl as in Fig. 8. closes the valve and lifts all 'of the .parts "in the casing except the rod 1'48. Aperiod of heating ensues. When the heat dies down, condensation gradually forms a partial cated in Fig. 9, firstpulling the sleeve ITO down onto the head I74 and awayfrom the-plate I64. when the sleeve thus becomes supported on the lhe'ad H4, any further condensation and increase in'vacuu'm tends to stretch the bellows upwardly,

pressingthevalve more tightly against its seat so that thevalve will stay closed even after the b mjetal disc snaps downwardly away from the nb "[62 due tocooling. he further building up of vacuumoccurs, the increased tendency to stretch lthe'bell'ows downwardly overcomes the friction f I "the plug 1 6 8 infthe sleeve I10 and the bellows,

as indicated in Fig. 10. pulls the plug downwardly, the sleeve being held by the head. The brrnetal disc snapsdo'wn away from rib [62 as COOIlI'iJ occurs. Whenheat'again comes en, a little vapor pressurereduces the amount of vacuum and parti "ally" collapses the bellows downwardly from the :top, thus lettering the container bottom I 64 onto the'sleeve I70 and openingthe valve. This breaks the vacuum completely. The entering t atmos heric pressure then coll'apses the bellows lightly closed during all hases of thevacuum build-up prior "to the 611171? of vapor Sothfllt, when 3 .a little vapor pressure does develop, the valve will open easily. In other words, the frictiondevice umitegt'he pressure exerted on the valve by the "bellowsandby so doiligit also limitstheamount of vapor pressure necessar to reopen the valve.

predetermined diminution or vacuum no matter how high the vacuum has builuup. closin bias-of the bellows is desirable atthe earli r "stage 1 in order to hold "the "vane" closed when the "bimetal disc snaps downwardly and so "ceases to exert closing pressure.

c I In 11, a vacuum limiting device is applied screw onto the furnace main. A circular rib or valve seat 111 on the base is engaged by a gasket I18 on aflanged'plateor valve member [80 which an openingleaving a passage around the screw.

is *adjustably connected by a screw I82 to a plate f8! which is pressed upwardly by a coil spring I 8'6. The spring surrounds a boss I88 which has The plate i8! is held from rotation during ad- 'justmentby a straight tongue I90 which fits betweenspacedlugs I92 on the boss I88. The spring normally keeps the .valve closed but when con densa'tion produces a predetermined vacuum, the

.Vacumninithe casing Outside of the bellows. The bellows "therefore stretches downwardly as indidownward elongation of the bellows brings the latteragainst theplate I84 and, as soon as the spring pressure is overcome, th valve opens slightly and momentarily so that incoming air brings the vacuum below. the set maximum again.

Starting with the valve open and the system cold, the heat comes on and vapor pressure drives out the air. The steam causes the bimetal disc to snap upland close the upper valve.- A period of heating ensues. When the heat dies down, condensation builds up a vacuum. The bellows accordingly stretches downwardl against the plate I84 and, until the spring pressure is overcome, the

reaction is upwardly to keep the valve closed even if the bimetal disc snaps down. When the vacuum exceeds its set maximum, the lower. valve opens enough to bring the vacuum back below the maximum. When the heat comes on again, the vapor quickly reduces the vacuum and the increase inpressure first collapses the bellows down from the top. This opens the upper valve and breaks the vacuum. The greater atmospheric pressure then collapses the bellows which jumps off the plate 184, this upward movement at the bottom occurring because the bellows is supported by .thezplate I64, the flanged sleeve I10 and the head {74. With the foregoing device, the vacuum neverexceeds a set amount but the vacuum will nevertheless be "broken when the heat is coming I up in the furnace. By this vacuum limiting dedesirable.

vice, thefriction devices of the preceding embodiment are eliminated. This device also operates as a relief valve to limit steam pressure. I In Fig. 12, there is shown a vacuum breaking valve adapted to be attachedto a radiator instead of to the furnace main, the-furnace main to have an' ordin'ary vacuum valve which does not break vacuum but 'merely 'maintains it and opens to expel aiiy It is the intention to put one of these vacuum breaking valveson each radiator in the system and, as will appear, the valve 'on the 'easie'st-to heat radiator will open first, the entermg air repelling. the vapor and pushingqit back The valve on the next easiest-to heat radiator would next open and do likewise. Thus the vapor would have 'to go first to the hardest+to heat radiator which is ofcour'se very The valve is similar in many respects to the valve ofFig. 7 but the base has a lateralthreaded nipple 200 for attachment to a radiator. I The base als'o has 'a threaded plug 202 which is adjustdble with respect to the friction plug I68. The plug '20: weuldhesetrcr its respective radiator, beingat' a maximumdistance from the frictip'n plug Hi8 for the easiest-'to heat radiator and had the bellows stretched downwardly the most to reach its more remote plug 202 and hence the bellows. can be more easily; pushed down at the top to open the valve. The next easiest-to-heat radiator has the bellows stretched a smaller amount and it will be a little harder'to open it, and so on. The hardest-to-heat radiator will thus be the last to opento the atmosphere but it will have been in a state of suction with respect to the hot vapors which are repelled from the other radiators and so this radiator will tend to heat first, giving a better balanced system. The venting capacity of these radiator valves. of Fig.

12 is much restricted by adjusting the rods.l48

upwardly by means of the set screws I46; 'Vacuum is thus broken slowly so that there is an interval in which the vapor can be driven to those points which need heating most. These valves can also be applied topiping, as when it is desired to repel vapor from one branch of a system to another.

In Fig. 13, a base 2H1 which is attached to a furnace main at V in Fig. 1 has a valve casing 2l2 soldered to it. The topof the casing is extended as a cap having a port 2l4 communicating with a passage in a seat member 2l6 with which a hollow valve 2 l8 cooperates. The valve is attachedv to a bellows 220 having a bottom wall provided with a friction plug 222 engaged by the slit lower end of a flanged sleeve 224 supported on a collar or headZZB formed-at the lower end of a supporting rod 228 suspended by the top of the casing. Below the bellows and spaced therefrom in the cold position is a thermostatic float 235 having an expansible top wall 232 and an'expansible bottom wall 2-34, the latter resting its center on a stud 236,

With the parts in the cold position indicated, the entrance of hot vapor expands the fluid in the float 230 and both end walls snap outwardly to the reversed position, the upper wall moving up against the bellows and closin the valve. After a period of heatingjthe fire dies down, steam condenses and builds up a partial vacuum. This causes elongation of the bellows which forces the plug 222 downin the sleeve 224 and forces the endwalls of the float nearer together. When the float 239 cools and'returns to fully collapsed position, the valve remainsclosed because the bellows still presses upwardly from'its friction support provided by the plug and sleeve. When heat comes on. the pressure of the hot vapor (diminished vacuum) causes'the bellows to collapse downwardly at the top, sufficiently to open the valve and break vacuum. Atmospheric air pressure is equalized inside and outside of the bellows because the air can enter through the hollow'valve 2H3 past the rod 228 as in Figs. '7 to 12 and the inherent spring action of the bellows causes the plug to slide up in the sleeve to starting position.

The gap between the wall 232 and the bellows is never entirely closed when the float is' cold and fully collapsed, even under conditions of maximum vacuum. g

f g In Fig. 14, a two-part casing 240' with an aperopenings 258 in the platform for communication between the upper and lower portions of the casing. An inverted cup 260 limits collapse of the bellows The valve is normally open to vent air. When heat reaches the float 252, the bottom snaps out, raising the platform and the bellows and closing the valve. Aftera period of heating, thesteam condenses, building up a partial vacuum, thus tending to stretch the bellows. The valve remains seated and the bellows reacts against the platform, forcing the latter down as vacuum builds up, Cooling collapses the float letting the platform descend. When heat is renewed, the vapor pressure collapses the. bellows downwardly at the top, breaking the vacuum.

Iclaim:

1. The method of operating a heating system, which consists in holding a partial vacuum in the system while the latter cools off, and causing a subsequent change of pressure of the heating medium itself'to break the vacuum by letting in a substantial amount of outside air to put the system at atmosphere pressure near the beginning of a heating cycle.

2. The method of operating a heating system, which consists in holding a partial vacuum in the system while the latter cools ofi, supplying. heat to the system, and causing the resulting change of pressure in the system itself to break the vacuum and put the system at atmospheric pressure near the beginning of a, heating cycle.

3. The method of operating a heating system,

which consists in holding a partial vacuum in the system while the latter cools off, and utilizing an increase of pressure in the system itself near the beginning of a heating cycle to control an'inflow of a substantial amount. of air to'the systemby opening the system to the atmosphere befo-resaid increasing pressure reaches atmospheric. 3

4. The method of operating a radiator heating system, which consists in holding a partial vacuum in the system while the latter is cooling off,

. utilizing an increase in pressure due to renewed heat to break the vacuum and restore the system to atmospheric pressure, venting the air from the radiators, and closing the system to retain the steam.

5. The method of operating a radiator heating system, which consists in holding a partial vacuum in the system while the latter is cooling off,

supplying heat to diminish the vacuum, causing said diminution in vacuum to control the a'dmission of air to the system, and utilizing the air to .control venting from the radiators.

6. The. method of operating a heating system, having a. plurality of radiators with vacuum valves on the radiators and piping connecting .the

radiators to a source of steam, which consists. in

supplying heat to the system, utilizing the resulting vapor pressure to open the valve on the normally easiest to heat radiator, causing air from outside of the system to first enter the normally easiest-to-heat radiator through said open valve to thereby drive the hot vapor back through the piping toa normally harder-to-heat radiator;

7-; The. method: of opera n a: heatina system having aplurality' of radiators; With va uum-valves onv the radia r and pin conn ctin the adiaa tors with a source of steam, which consists; in pply ng heat: to the s stem, utili in the sult;- h v orpre sure to; o en t e a ves on easier to heat. ad ato s, nd aus ie the otlvapor to enter he; normally ha dest-tQ- eat radiat by: repel ling, with air admitted fro-moutside oIf-the system, hrou h the open val es th vapor omheasi rr oe t; radiators. l w l a t h m d oi o ra-t ns a. heatingsystem h ing a: p u al of radiat rs and a a-h e on a hradiator, h h. cons stsin aus n all valves toi clos on the h oachofi; st am. and. to stay losed: while the s stem o ls nd builds; p

partial vac um, and ausing: an n r aseih Pl a uiatafirstop n he valveon the e siest oe t radiator to let in air from the; outside of the syst m andath y e el. hot vapor to oth r: rad ate o s and to m xt hen th iva ve on le feas or heat radiator.

2&6392852 9:. A va u m r akin de ice o hitatih are items in hich-r dia o are nterm ttent y simplied with heat through piping from a steam b iler, s d e c -m iris; a casina a al nd; a valve se t m ns f r a s n the lve and he: valve. seat o e aa e ne ano her ta h ld: h casing closed, While steam is supplied and, while a vac um is building n an mean? ntr e y Pressu h a in itseli iorantomatical y limiting the pressure between th valve and its seat t facilitate: their subsequent separation to adm t air from he-atmo phere at ha o nt in th cy le wh n va uum h pp d uild sup and has, imini hed a predetermined amount-tea wa m spher c pr s ra L.- In a, heating system havihg radiators, a

vacuum breaking valve con-nected to thesystem aha-point remote from therradiators, said. vacuum br akina v lve ha ingllmeans to hold the system c osed und st am r s re ndh le: avac ium s bu ding p when he steam c nden es aid meme-includin an ext nsibl -mem er esp nsive to pressure andjmeans or limiting the: tendency of the extensible member to: exert a closing bias on the valve as said vacuum builds up whereby subsequent. diminution of he vacuum. atla point e ow. atmflshheric pressur can easi y a tuate-the v extensible m e to ope the system to let air rom the atmosph re, aid ast named m ans comprising a m n n o aid extensible-m m er constructed and arr nged to automatically limit its valve closinebiasvcaused by sa d buildin up fv lcuuml l a 4131. a hea in system having radiators. a ac um r k g. va v on ected t the ystem at a point remote from the radiators and having thermostatic means to close it on the approaoh of steam, a bellows cooperating with the valve to hold the system closed while a. partial vacuum lzmilds up, and means for limiting" the stress put on the valve bythe bellows due to the partial vacuum to thereby-avoid too tight closure of the system, whereby a small increase in pressure within the system at a point below atmospheric fiufihzbllzil il gruli ili vacuum mmmak nsr 1- V;

lows. o t. a h avvcl sina r essum n the va vel3- ha heatiha sys m; ha n ad ators, re lsina valet h i a h rmos ati e hsi close on he hrrowh S a a he l ws cooperati g w h he al to old the v lv s d, Wh l a ar al, aqa imbu d up: n th syst m, a d a r ction means c operatingw th th bellows: fat h t ess indueed n th ellows pon he c osin of he v ve-1 under h partial vacuum, condition.

14. A vacuum ibreaking valve having aeasing and avalve seat, a va e ad p e o enga e the seat, theizmes atio mea stq o s h al-Ye mm the eatin f aid abe i s caone ating witht ezval e to hold t e; v v olos d i e a ar ial v cuum uilds up a out said be ows, a r tiohimember eonneoted to th e l-9W5: ar d a ooperat ng fri tion member ha in onne on w th e: casing to i io ionalivesist m ement of he h lo-was. a v

A vacuum reakin v ve havi as n a d a valve sea a hol w va veada ied: o nga e the seat acoa a Qo me ted athe val a p e ence i he a; sh a e;

memb r-ha n siimi rt oh the casina.

a h a ing s s em ha, rad ators, a

hreakiha valv msthermostatic mean to 95.2; 3 3. hroaeh o steamiahel aw coop ratiha w tthe va veto ho d valve c se wh e a. a radi m rs emhah v a ari st-messed: va a operable by one o i he two par compris n the bel ows and the thermostatic mean to limit the amount; of vacuum; he sat-te th w v l ,18. In; a heat ng; system ha n aradiatorsra vae um brea a ing thermostatic means to. clos the valve on the. apmr ach oi Steam, a beilawseoo eiratihmw h the valve to. oldheaivec os d While a ha tia va uum biiilds up, he sys em, and" a. v o a al e ii. he; ha h oi the; shows to one an he hh, a the aqimm e ahses th le gt of the be lo lim t he amount of a u mattma oaths-bellows a i A va um brea r e systemsin w ich r d ators a e nt rmittently e w th heat, hro p ping a stsamho ler, a d breake having a. vaive-vs i aepeii o the sv tem at a. point remote from the radiators a valve and pressure will reactuate the bellows and open the system to admit air from the atmosphere.

\ 12. In a heating system having radiators, a vacuum breaking valve connected to the system at a point remote'from theradiators and having thermostatic means to close it on the approachof steam, a bellows cooperating with the valve to hold the system closed while a partial vacuum builds up, and a limiting device for preventing ava -ve-fseat, ada teato en age to, iose err the syst m item he atmosphere; m ans ioir aus ng pres ure en agement etw en the valv am the seat, w i e he svs em; cools-arid uilds up a ash-- m. and a L mitin m ant meu omati al y l m t; ma h ncrease ihmhress re et e n the; valve and h iihfl k Q Q build ngh pi of vacuum af r. e valve and he seat e a e to the-re faci itate their s bsequent separation 2 A ealre ker; f heat hs. asiems in radiators ihtermittehtlvsiimiied with heat; throug iii-p n tra n a st am Qi'll said breaker having a valve casing open to the system at a'pointremote from the radiators, a valve and a valve seat adapted to engage to close off the system from the atmosphere, means including a bellows, always exposed on one side to the atmos phere and on the other side to the system; for

maintainingengagement of the valve and the,

seat while 'the'system cools off and builds up a vacuum, and'a limiting means co-operating with the bellows for automatically limiting the increase in pressure between the valve and the seat due to said building up of vacuum after said parts engage.

21. A vacuum breaker for heating systems in which radiators are intermittently supplied with I heat through piping from .a steam boiler, said breaker having a valve casing open to the system at a point remote from the radiators and having a valve and a valve seat engageable to close off the system from the atmosphere, a heat sensitive device and a bellows supported one over the other in the casing and the uppermost supporting one of said engageable parts, the bellows being exposed to the system on one side and exposed to the atmosphere on the other, the cooling of the system and the corresponding building up of vacuum tending to cause said-bellows to exert an increasing closing pressure between the valve and the valve seat, and a limiting means co-operating with the bellows to limit the stress applied to the latter by the increasing vacuum and thereby pre- Vent said closing pressure from continuing to increase. v I

22. A vacuum breaker for heating systems in which radiators are intermittently supplied with heat through piping from a steam boiler, said breaker having a valve casingopen to the system at a point remote from the radiators, a valve and a valve seat engageable to close off the system from the atmosphere, pressure sensitive means to hold said parts engaged while the system cools and builds up an increasing'vacuum, and means '00- side having constant communication with the atmosphere, and a yieldable limiting means for limiting the pressure between the valve and the seat which an increasing vacuum in the casing tends to apply through the bellows.

25. A method of heatin enclosed spaces by steam, utilizing a steam boiler, a source of heat, a plurality of radiators in said enclosed spaces and connected to said boiler in which each cycle comprises the following steps, setting said source of heat in operation at a predetermined falling enclosed space temperature, supplying said radiators with steam, ventingair from said radiators, sealing the system, discontinuing the supply of steam, then allowing the steam to condense to create a, negative pressure in said system, maintaining said system sealed, setting said source of heat in operation upon the repetition of the predetermined falling space temperatura supplying said radiatorswith hot vapor, admitting atmospheric air into the easiest-to-heat radiator through the utilization of the pressure of the hot vapor admitted thereto, to thereby drive the approaching steam back from said easiest-to-heat radiator to a harder-to-heat radiator.

26. A method of heating by steam, utilizing a system comprising a plurality of radiators'with vents thereon and an intermittently operating source of steam, in which each cycle comprises the'following steps: setting the source of steam in operation, supplying radiators with steam, sealing the system before or about the timethe steam source ceases operation, discontinuing the supplyof steam, then allowing the steam to condense to create a substantial negative pressure,

a and causing a subsequent diminution of said neg ative pressure to open said system to the atmosphere prior to distribution of steam to the radia tors on the next heating cycle.

2'7. A method of heating by steam as set forth in the foregoing claim, in which the opening of said system to the atmosphere takes place when the negative pressure has decreased not more than four inches of mercury from the maximum negative pressure that is permitted to develop.

28.- The method of operating a heating system having radiators in various locations which are not equally easy to heat and pipes connecting the radiators to an intermittently operating source of system forholdingthe valve and the seat in en-- gagement while the system cools off and builds up an increasing vacuum, and a yieldable limiting means yieldable under increasing vacuum for automatically limiting the pressure between the valve and the seat whereby said parts will separate and break the vacuum completely whenever the vacuum subsides a predetermined amount from amaximum. a

24. A vacuum breaker for heating systems in which radiators are intermittently supplied with heat through piping from a steam boiler, said breaker having a Valve casing open to the system at a point remote from the radiators, .a valve and a valve seat engageable to close off the system from the atmosphere, a heat sensitive member and a bellows supported one upon the other in the casing and acting jointly to control engagement and separation of the valve and the valve seat, the bellows being exposed on one side to the pressure of the system and the opposite steam, which consists in closing the system on the approach of steam and holding the system closed while the system cools and condenses the steam to build up a partial vacuum, and causing the approach of a renewed supply of steam to first open to the atmosphere that part "of the system which is easiest to heat to admit airv from outside the system and thereby repel the hot vapor towards other parts of the system which are normally harder to heat.

29. In a steam heating system having radiators in different locations which are not equallyeasy to heat, a source of heating medium andpip esto conduct the heating medium to the various radi- I ators,an adjustable vacuum breaking valve corresponding to each location, the individual'valves being set to break vacuum at different vapor pressures, the location to which the heat can be driven easiest having the corresponding valveiset to break vacuum at the lowest vapor pressure and thus admit air todrive the heating mediumrtm, Wards other parts of the system which normally are hearder to heat. l I HAROLD R. GOODALE; 

